Wednesday, May 30, 2012

If
you do not want to be standing out in the cold arguing with a snowblower that
does not want to run, then do the annual maintenance before the snow starts
flying. Regular maintenance will give you years of hassle free use, and less
attitude from your blower. Do not forget the safety aspect, because without
proper maintenance your snowblower could become a hazard.

Each
fall before winter arrives, you should check all bolts, belts, and moving
parts, to ensure they are not frayed, loose, or worn. Belts are best checked by
removing and checking for cracks. Replace any worn parts, and tighten any loose
bolts.

Turn
your snowblower on its side and check the scraper bar. This is the bar that
rubs against the ground and scrapes the snow off. This item wears, so check to
see if it need replacement. If you neglect to replace the bar when it is worn,
it will lead to damage on the snowblower's housing, and that's will hurt your
pocket book. In fact, if your snowblower gets a lot of use through out the
season, check it regularly.

Check
the rubber paddles and the rubber on the auger. If your finger fits between the
rubber and the housing it's time to replace the rubber. A new rubber will help
your snowblower operate at its optimum performance levels.

Check
tires for wear and proper inflation. Adjust as needed. If you have tire chains
for your snowblower, have them handy or put them on in advance. There's nothing
worse than searching in the freezing cold, while trying to remember where you
put the chains.

There
are only two types of snow blower engines: The two cylinder engine which uses
mixed gas and oil. You will just need to replace the spark plug on this style
of engine.

If
you have a four cylinder engine which applies straight gas, with the oil in the
crank case just like your vehicle, you will need to change the oil, spark plug,
and filter. You should also check the oil each time before you start it. Most
four cylinders use 5W30 oil, and hold approx 20 ounces. Refer to your owner's
manual for the correct oil weight, and replacement part numbers.

Lubricate
the drive and chassis. If you have two stage blower, be sure you check the lube
in the gear box. Check with your owners manual whether you have a one stage or
two stage. It will also tell you the type of lubricant to use.

If
there was fuel left from the previous year, you will need to siphon it off, and
fill the gas tank with fresh gasoline. It doesn't hurt to add some methanol in
with the fuel, once or twice a season, to avoid condensation from building up
in the tank, or the carburetor icing up.

The
2006 Honda Civic Si, designed as an "Advanced Personal Compact," the
next-generation Si will incorporate flowing bodywork, a steeply angled
windshield, and wide stance to propose stability and forward motion. The new
Civic Si will be the fastest and most powerful Civic offered in its twenty-year
history. The 2006 Civic lineup, launching this fall, will include a 4-door
Sedan, a 2-door Coupe and Si Coupe, an even more fuel efficient Civic Hybrid
and a natural-gas powered Civic GX.

The
Civic Si Concept builds on its performance heritage with a 200 HP, 16 valve,
and DOHC i-VTEC engine with an 8000 rpm red line, mated to a close ratio
6-speed manual transmission system. Helping to put all that power to the ground
is a helical-type limited slip differential for improved launch traction and
cornering performance.

A
200 HP 16 valve i-VTEC engine powers the 2006 Si. Honda sources indicate that
next-generation i-VTEC technology will have significant increases in
performance and fuel economy. A six-speed transmission system will give drivers
manual control of shift points up to the engine's redline of 8000 rpm, and a
helical-type limited-slip differential will raise traction and cornering
ability.

The
Si Concept includes performance features such as 18-inch cast aluminum wheels
with 225/40R high performance tires, and 4-wheel disc brake system with large
cross-drilled brake rotors. "The 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be the most
powerful, fastest and fun-to-drive Si we have ever put on the street, and the
Civic Si Concept sets the direction in terms of its styling, package and
performance," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda.
"It's part of a new family of Civic vehicles that build on the already
class-leading values of the Civic in terms of safety, styling, performance and
fuel efficiency."

This
new production Civic Si Coupe will serve as the performance leader for the 2006
Civic model lineup, which will be completely redesigned. The 2006 Civic will
feature more emotional styling, increased performance, and the latest
generation of "intelligent" i-VTEC engine technology.

Monday, May 21, 2012

So you are mechanically inclined?
Fabulous! You probably know a lot about fixing and installing car parts. When
working on vehicles, there are certainly times when parts need to be replaced,
costing you and, in turn, the customer a lot of money. But there are ways to
cut your costs. Have you considered applying recycled car parts?

Automotive recyclers offer great deals
on used car parts. There are numerous recyclers out there than you might think.
And their prices are hard to beat. One reason is that insurance companies can
save money themselves by dropping off wrecked vehicles at a recycling yard.
There are many other incentives, though, to shop from these guys.

Did you know that purchasing used car
parts from auto recyclers helps keep pollution caused by producing new parts? A
lot of oil is used to manufacture new car parts-resources that are saved by
recycling. Reusing raw materials is beneficial to the environment. And finding
the right car parts should not be too hard. Currently, more than 4 million cars
are recycled every year in North America. That's a lot of available car parts!

Recycling car parts saves a lot of
space in landfills. Why throw something away when it can still be used? Also,
buying used car parts allows you to use quality parts made by the original
manufacturer. Recyclers are skilled in checking which car parts are damaged and
which are reusable.

And it is true: used car parts help
you save money. Clearly, this is a cheaper option to purchasing new car parts.
But are you getting the same quality? Good question. Actually, most automotive
recyclers give guarantees on car parts, so you will not need to worry about
buying a lemon. Better yet, recyclers can often find car parts faster than
other dealers, as they have developed an electronic network to communicate
quickly with other recyclers. If they do not have what you need in stock,
chances are they can find it in no time.

Next time you are searching car parts,
consider your local automotive recycler. You will be satisfied with the
product, and also with the price.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Radiators are essential parts of any
engine cooling system. They are designed to dissipate the heat, which the
coolant has absorbed from the engine. However, like all auto parts, radiators
are prone to damage and corrosion. As it is mostly made of metal and is in
constant contact with liquids, radiators can collapse over time due to
corrosive forces. Defective radiators can spell doom for any engine.
Irreparable damage can result if a malfunctioning radiator is not repaired or
replaced immediately. Overheating is one of the most common collapses that
autos encounter during the summertime season. It happens when the temperature
of the coolant passes the normal operating temperature range of the engine.
Overheating has many causes. Idling under hot weather for extended periods can
wreak havoc on the cars cooling system, because the water pump does not turn
fast enough. Thus the coolant is not circulated, as it should be. Sometimes a
leak may cause the coolant level to drop thus causing the radiator to overheat.
Here are a few pointers for dealing with an overheated radiator:

1. Turn off the A/C. If the car is not
seriously overheating, this will reduce the engine's temperature. The AC
evaporator is placed in front of the radiator, and it adds heat to the air
going to your engine. The hotter the incoming air is, the less efficient the
radiator will be.

2. Turn on your heater (set on highest
temperature setting, with blower on highest setting). This will be
uncomfortable for you, but it will cool the engine by transferring the heat to
the air. Roll down the windows, and remember how 'hot' you will get if your
engine needs replacement!

3. If you are stuck in traffic jam,
pull over and stop. Unless you are moving, very little cool air reaches the
radiator. Open the hood and let the engine cool down. This takes time, so be
patient. Use the time to go get a jug of water or antifreeze.

4. Check the overflow tank coolant
level. If it is empty, the radiator is probably low on coolant.

5. Check the pressure of the system by
wrapping a cloth around the upper radiator hose and squeezing it. If it is
still under pressure (hot) it will not squeeze easily. Wait until it does.

6. Place a large cloth over the
radiator cap, and carefully release the pressure. Serious burns can result from
the hot coolant. If in doubt, wait until the engine cools completely.

7. If the coolant is low, start the
engine, and slowly add the water or coolant necessary to fill it up. The engine
must be running. Adding coolant to a warm engine can crack the block. By
running the engine, the coolant keeps moving and reduces the chances of this
type of damage occurring.

It features a powerful 42-volt
lead-acid battery pack underneath the rear seat, an auxiliary starter-generator
between the engine and the transmission, an electronic control module, and a
regenerative braking system, which charges the battery while braking, and
coasting.

With an auxiliary generator
capability, the truck's generator can operate when the truck is parked without
a key in the ignition. The hybrid Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups
could power tools or appliances for up to 32 hours non-stop. This design shuts
the engine down before the tank is emptied, allowing enough gas to drive to a
station for refuelling. All power supply circuits are protected by a ground
fault detection system to prevent overloads and short circuits.

A compact electric motor that
generates up to 14,000 watts of continuous electric power makes this pickup
truck more fuel-efficient. The main function of the triplet deep-cycle lead
acid batteries is to serve the starter generator to instantly restart the
engine. When the Silverado Hybrid comes to a stop while in Drive or Park, the
engine will automatically shut off. When the driver takes his/her foot off the
brake and puts it on the accelerator pedal, the engine re-starts automatically
and almost seamlessly.

One feature of GM's Hybrid pickups
that is likely to attract buyers is its double 120 volt power outlets inside
the box near the tailgate, and another two 120 volt outlets inside the rear
cab. These can be used for power tools, compressors, generators, heaters, appliances
or any other electrical appliance. The outlets can be deactivated with a button
on the dashboard to avoid any unauthorized use of the external 120 volts
outlets.

The Silverado Hybrid extended cab is a
comfortable, smooth-riding pickup with a quiet, V8 engine, a roomy cab with
good ventilation and excellent outward visibility, and a rugged hard-wearing
chassis.

Car manufacturer know that rising oil
prices and tougher environmental rules will increase the public's interest in
vehicles that use less fuel with reduced tail pipe emissions.

Hybrids increase fuel efficiency by
capturing the energy normally lost to friction braking and storing it in a
battery for later use when driving power is again required. Different than
internal combustion engine hybrids, Volkswagen's hydrogen fuel cell hybrid
emits only water.

The VW Touran Hymotion has high-torque
electric motor that draws its power from a fuel cell and is absolutely emission
free. The standard version, driven by gasoline and diesel engines, which are as
agile as they are economical, is by far the most successful van available in
Germany. In the Touran HyMotion, an 80 kW electric motor provides vehement
propulsion.

The core element of this fuel cell is
an extremely thin plastic film (membrane). This spatially separates the
reagents, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is broken down into positively and
negatively charged particles (protons and electrons). The protons are able to
pass directly through the membrane, while the electrons take a more indirect
route via an external current circuit, driving the electric motor. On the other
side of the membrane, the protons, electrons and oxygen blend to form water
(H2O).

The hydrogen is transported in gaseous
form at 350 bar in a special tank fitted in the Touran. A capacity of 1.9 kg
hydrogen when converted corresponds to the energy contained in 7.5 litres of
petrol. In combination with the electric motor's high efficiency, this quantity
of hydrogen provides the vehicle with a range of about 160 kilometres.

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid applies
both gasoline engine and electric car motor, which gives a 50% gain in driving
efficiency with a much lower emission. All this is achieved by the use of half
dozen powertrain components, which work in perfect unison. Ford motor has 40
patents in hybrid engine technology and 70 pending.

"The greatest appeal of the
Mercury Mariner Hybrid is that it satisfies both your environmental conscience
and sense of style. Mariner Hybrid retains the clean, tailored appearance of
the conventional Mariner," said Peter Horbury, Executive Director, North
American Design.

Being a fully hybrid, the Mercury
Mariner employs both series- and parallel-hybrid characteristics. The gasoline
engine shuts down to conserve fuel during coasting, at stoplight, and at low
speeds. The electric motor, taking up electricity from the battery, is able to
drive the vehicle without assistance up to 25 miles per hour.

It has 2.3-liter DOHC Duratec
four-cylinder engine with 2 ac electric motors with 250 D-size nickel-metal
hydride batteries in a compact, rear-mounted, sealed package. The vehicle could
go up to 25 mph with only electric power. The gas engine automatically shuts
down at traffic light, during coasting or when vehicle is crawling at low
speeds. 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid has a groovier fuel economy in city driving
where electric motor runs the vehicle up to as much as 25 mph.

The Mariner hybrid has 16-inch,
five-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped with 235/70R-16 all-season tires and a
discreet air vent in the driver's side rear-quarter window that helps cool the
rear-mounted nickel-metal hydride battery pack. It has an all-new Intelligent
four-wheel drive System, which automatically carry-overs torque from front to
rear as required by road conditions without driver intervention.

Mariner powertrains include a 2.3-liter
16-valve I-4 and a 3.0-liter 24-valve V-6 Duratec engine. Both engines come
with a standard 4-speed automatic transaxle.

It also features a front end with the
vertical, satin-aluminum-finished waterfall grill framing the floating Mercury
emblem. The fascia features a stacked-element theme with complex refractor
headlights over inset fog lamps. A high-impact-plastic (HIP) aluminum-look
bumper insert and U-shaped air intake below the bumper.

Mariner has the latest level of the
Personal Safety SystemTM, one of the most comprehensive and technologically
advanced safety systems available in any vehicle in any class. Seat-mounted
front side air bags and side air curtain air bags are optional.

"Mariner Hybrid fits perfectly
with Mercury's design philosophy," says Richard Gresens, Mariner chief
designer. "It's a stylish, elegant design with clean simple lines. It's an
urban sport-utility, comfortable going to a club downtown, yet still possessing
all of the capability and versatility of a sport-utility. At the same time,
it's environmentally friendly."

Friday, May 18, 2012

Did you know pinstriping has a long
history? Even before the invention of cars, pinstriping was used as an
ornamental decoration for horse and buggy carriages.

Custom pinstripes began seeming on
cars in the mid-1950s. Although pinstriping had been on cars long before that,
the last American automobile to appear with auto pinstriping had been made by
General Motors in the late 30’s. For those individuals with muscle or sports
cars, personalizing their ride is an important part of possessing and
showcasing the vehicle, and pinstriping is a final touch.

Pinstripes are commonly painted in two
colors: one that sets off the body color, and another, thin line, in a color
counterpointed with the stripe to make it stand out.

Mechanical pin striping is the best
way to stripe larger vehicles- trucks, vans, or station wagons. The benefit is
it lays down stripes of constant width, letting you focus attention on getting
the stripe oriented properly along your working surface. You can set up your
stripe lines using magnetic pinstriping strips with center grooves designed to
be paint templates. They hold fast to steel surfaces, and can also work as
guidea for your hand.

Striping with stencil tape is also
popular. There are various types of stencil tape that are suitable for auto
pinstriping applications. Stencil tape striping uses brushes, and a specialized
pinstriping brush is an essential component in a successful project. Stencil
tape allows you to apply different color stripes without needing the other
stripes to dry.

Freehand pinstriping is the most
difficult technique, requiring the most practice to master, but permits
unrestricted creativity. The simplest plan for a freehand striping newbie is to
lay a strip of masking tape down approximately a quarter inch from where you
want the finished line to be, and then use this tape as visual guiding for your
stripes. Whatever you do, do not use regular masking tape, or your pinstriping
paint will bleed under the edge. Get some auto body masking tape from an auto
supply store.

No matter what technique you use,
pinstriping is one of the finest ways to make your vehicle distinctive. Just
like anything else worth doing right, practice makes priceless results but
having the best equipment you can get your hands on helps too.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Lexus GS 450h is the world's
first hybrid luxury sedan and the first full hybrid vehicle with a front engine
and rear wheel drive.

'Once again, we have applied our
formula of no compromise engineering - this time to a luxury sport sedan which
proves to us that hybrid power trains can work superbly in virtually any
application,' said Lexus Vice President of Marketing Mark Templin. 'It's very
important to continue pursuing substantial reductions in fuel consumption and
emissions, while continuing to improve performance and driving pleasure. Our
customers would not have it any other way.

It will be a rear wheel drive full
hybrid making it able to travel at low speeds under electric propulsion alone.
Lexus says the GS 450h will have gas mileage similar to the average 2-liter,
4-cylinder compact sedan.

The Lexus GS 450h is a Super Ultra Low
Emissions Vehicle or called SULEV. A SULEV-rated vehicle is 90% cleaner than
the average new car.

The GS 450h will have a 3.5-liter V6
engine mixed with a high-output electric motor--all driving the rear wheels--to
pack HP at the level of a V8 engine. Lexus says it will have HP equal to a 4.5
liter V8. 0-60 acceleration is expected to be less than 6 seconds. For perspective,
the 2006 GS 430 has a 4.3-liter V8 that has 300 HP.

It is built on the GS 430 platform and
offers similar standard equipment and options, including a sunroof and
perforated leather seats. It's visually identical to the GS 430, except for a
large air dam on the front bumper to cool the electric motor, a power meter on
the dashboard instead of an odometer, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels.

Hybrid technology, driving dynamics,
motoring comfort and generous space inside redefines the new Lexus GS450h.
Featuring more powerful and fuel efficient engines, innovative assistance
systems, a wide range of safety features, as well as a superior standard of
equipment, the new Toyota Lexus of today need no less than superior BMW
replacement parts when the need arises.

The weather is fair enough and
inviting. The sky is as clear as blue crystal. The sun is flaming hot offering
a warm and exciting motorcycle ride. Your well-maintained motorcycle is ready
in the garage hoping to be of service to her master. But are you ready for an
action-packed adventure either with or without a helmet? Are you willing to
compromise? Last night you're disturbed by the revelation of a fact that
helmets has its drawbacks. Now you are more bothered. Which is which?

Today, contradictory data about
wearing helmets are widespread. Some studies are saying that wearing helmets
has caused neck injuries that aggravate the condition of riders after
encountering an accident. Some studies are on the exact reverse. They prove
that a lot of lives are saved just by the reason of wearing helmets. Which of
these two is more alarming? Which is to be set aside in order to yield
outstanding security?

By virtue of these conflicting
studies, riders are now bewildered which study to believe in. The indecision is
blatant that the urge to ride a bike has been affected. This shouldn't be
happening. We must make a choice. This choice can be guessed by the facts
around us.

Helmets are designed to protect our
head. Our head is vital not only because it has our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
and to let it be wounded will render us blind, deaf, deformed and less
productive. It is vital because inside it is our brain. Our brain is soft and
fragile while the road and cars are hard. Hits, bumps and terrible mishaps
happen unfortunately, if our head is not well-protected, it will meet the hard
road or vehicle parts and that may mean our doomed end.

Our brain controls every part of our
body thus, it must be protected at all times. But how do you choose the best
motorcycle apparel to protect your head? Does cost matters? Do ratings matter?

Helmets must pass a very dogmatic test
involving real collisions. After that, augmentation in its structure can be
done. The outer shell of the helmet must not be easily perpetrated or
scratched. Another factor is that it must even out the impact so as not to
damage the head by the rapid deceleration of the collisions.

Mostly, price has no relation to the
overall features and work of a helmet. You can get a good-quality helmet at a
fair price. Bear in mind that price is not a standard.

Ratings, on the other hand, can be a
viable standard. If it passed the hardest test then it is well likely to have a
good rating.

Safety and protection must be
prioritized. Thus, always wear helmet to be safe and protected.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Your car radiator is the primary
cooling mechanism for your engine. A small leak on your Radiator can be
signaling a greater trouble. A cooling system that runs low too often is less
efficient and you can damage your cooling system by letting the coolant level
get too low. Too little coolant flow can be bad, but at normal and high
operating temperatures, the rate at which coolant runs through the radiator
doesn't change the amount of heat that is dissipated by the cooling cores. The
amount of cooling won't be reduced even when the mean temperature of the coolant
rises and flows faster.

Many cheap coolants do not have the
corrosion protection, PH balancing, or sediment prevention that the high-grade
coolants do. These low quality coolants do not have the same additives of name
brand coolants. To help your engine stay cooler, rev up your engine slightly
when you're overheating in traffic jam to help push more air across the cooling
cores and more coolant through the engine.

All water-cooled radiators have an
automatically controlled blower on the radiator. The way the system is supposed
to work is that, after the engine is started, the thermostat on the engine
stays closed until the coolant temperature at the ENGINE reaches 87C (189F)
degrees. It is the responsibility of the Radiator to keep the coolant temperature
from running too high. However, if the temperature is too high it is not
necessarily the radiator.

A poor radiator cap won't last as long
or stay properly calibrated, and either open at too low or two high a pressure.
Make sure your radiator cap is the proper one for your cooling system. Higher
pressure implies a higher boiling point, which means more efficient cooling. A
new radiator cap is usually all that is required for this (but don’t over
pressurize your radiator cores and wreck the whole system).

Most Radiators' cooling system
failures develop from poor radiator maintenance. Many radiator problems can be
prevented with regular maintenance and periodic professional inspections of you
car radiator and cooling system. The most common radiator problems are: leaky
fittings or seams, fin deterioration and bond failure, electrolysis, cracked
tank, and fan damage.

People hate automobile dealers. Of
course, there are always nice guys, but numerous car dealers just have to cheat
their way to benefits. Here are the top 5 auto scams that you absolutely must
avoid, or risk paying way too much for your car.

Scam 1: The Yo-Yo Financing Scam

The dealer deals you a car and allows
you to take it home at once. You finance your car through the dealer, but a few
days later, the dealer phones and tells you that your financing has fallen
through. You are then ordered to set up new financing through the dealer, at a
much higher cost to you, and a much higher income to them. Avoid this at any
cost! If you have bad credit, do not finance at the dealer. Arrange your own
financing. If you finance through the dealer, never drive off your car
immediately. You should hold at least 24 hours before taking your new car, so
as to make sure funding is complete. This allows the dealer no way to play the
scam on you.

Scam 2: The Window Etching Fee

This is one of the most ridiculous but
usual scams I have heard off. Basically the dealer offers to window etch your
VIN number in the window of your car for you, at a price ranging from $300 to
$1000. Some people have tried to talk down the cost, and they often succeed,
but the dealer still draws a few hundreds off you. The easiest way to solve
this problem? Just purchase a do it yourself window etching kit at any decent
auto parts store. It only costs $20.

Scam 3: The Dealer Preparation Fee

The dealer charges you a preparation
fee to prepare your car. Some often charge an unconscionable $500 or more just
to peel off the plastic protection on the car, test drive the car and put in
the fuses. Most MSRP stickers show that these costs have already been covered
by the manufacturer. In fact, some car dealers permanently print it on the
buyer's order to make it seem mandatory, but one way you can get it removed is
by telling the dealer to add a credit (of the equal amount as the dealer
preparation fees) on the next line. If they decline to do so, you should simply
walk out of the dealership.

Scam 4: The Market Adjustment Fee

In this scam, the dealer tells you
that your car is a genuinely popular vehicle, and so to sell you the vehicle
they have to add "Market Adjustment Fees" of several thousand dollars.
This sum of money is commonly indicated on an orange sticker next to
manufacturer's MSRP sticker. A car possibly popular, but if it is in stock, it
is not worth paying extra for it. Many buyers, especially trade-in buyers, have
been ripped off before. They focus only on what they get for their old car, and
so they do not see the big picture. They may get an extra few thousand for
their car, but they do not notice that they're bucked a much higher Market
Adjustment Fee. The dealer sells the car, gets the trade-in, and makes an extra
off the buyer. Never pay more than the manufacturer's MSRP.

Scam 5: The Extended Warranty Scam

The Extended Warranty scam is quite
old but it's still in use. And many people still do fall for it. Basically,
when you take a loan on your car, the dealer will say that you have to purchase
an extended warranty because the bank requires it for the loan. Deflecting this
scam is very simple actually. Tell the dealer to write down in black and white
that the extended warranty is required for the loan and they will most probably
find some excuse to remove the extended warranty. If they refuse to do so, then
please do not buy from that dealership. Actually, the extended warranty is a
great thing to have, but do not ever get it from the dealer. You can get far
better deals elsewhere, especially online.Don’t get cheated by car dealers!